About the Pathways to College Network

Launched in 2001, the Pathways to College Network is an alliance of 38 national organizations and funders committed to advancing college access and success for underserved students, including those who are the first generation in their families to go to college, low-income students, underrepresented minorities, and students with disabilities. Pathways emphasizes connecting policymakers, education leaders and practitioners, and community leaders with research on effective strategies for improving college preparation, enrollment, and degree completion. In 2004, Pathways published A Shared Agenda: A Leadership Challenge to Improve College Access and Success, summarizing research-based effective policies and practices drawn from over 650 studies. As the Network has expanded strategically to include new partners, funders, and collaborators, the six guiding principles articulated in A Shared Agenda remain at the center of our ongoing work.

1. Expect that all underserved students are capable of being prepared to enroll and succeed in college.
2. Provide a range of high-quality college-preparatory tools for underserved students and their families.
3. Embrace social, cultural, and learning-style differences in developing learning environments and activities for underserved students.
4. Involve leaders at all levels in establishing policies, programs, and practices that facilitate student transitions towards postsecondary attainment.
5. Maintain sufficient financial and human resources to enable underserved students to prepare for, enroll, and succeed in college.
6. Assess policy, program, practice, and institutional effectiveness regularly.

A Shared Agenda calls for leaders from all sectors to take bold steps to ensure that college is a realistic goal for all young people. Pathways’ action plan for 2004-2006 focuses on four priorities. Our goals are to catalyze discussion around these key issues and to prompt leaders and practitioners to implement change. We also will actively pursue ongoing research about how policies and practices can be improved to better serve students.

1. Encourage schools to make a rigorous college-prep curriculum the standard course of study for all students, so they will have the skills and knowledge they need to be successful in both postsecondary education and the workplace.
2. Improve the effectiveness of college access marketing campaigns that aim to influence the college-going behavior of underserved students.
3. Encourage early financial aid commitments and early notification programs for underserved students.
4. Persuade postsecondary leaders to take steps to improve the retention and graduation rates of underserved students.